Can a LEO clock speeders on private property?

[OCya]

Hi all,

I have noticed an officer using laser when he is on the premises of a church parking lot. It makes it seeing him less noticeable since he's not in the street nor on a public sidewalk which I've seen other moto LEOs use.

I was curious to know if this is legal to do so since I'm assuming the property would be considered private unless they were given permission or is permission unnecessary being that a LEO could give a parking ticket for a vehicle not having a plaque in disabled parking slots?

[Ron-Solo]

If the parking lot is open and accessible to the public, yes, it is legal. It is often safer to monitor traffic off the main portion of the highway. It's not always about "hiding" or being sneaky.

[OCya]

Thanks for the clarification.

I feel his positioning doesn't seem that much safer as he's more than 30 feet into a parking lot on a curved street but that could be debatable.

I do know of a more seemingly sneakish way of being behind 1 of those bus stop signs that show the movie posters but I'm aware that there's no such thing as a speed trap unless an officer cannot be seen at all fields of view.

Thanks again.

[yzErnie]

I do know of a more seemingly sneakish way of being behind 1 of those bus stop signs that show the movie posters but I'm aware that there's no such thing as a speed trap unless an officer cannot be seen at all fields of view.

Thanks again.

A common misperception is the officer has to be openly visable. There is not speed trap rules about hiding behind a sign, building or whatever. For that matter, he could be camo'd out in a tree and shooting radar/laser and that does not fall into the speed trap law.

[for2nato]

yea i thought the speed trap law was more like the speed cant be posted at 40 the 20 feet down the road it all of a sudden switches to 30 for no apparent reason and thats where the cops hang out to give tickets. not that they had to be in plain sight.

[Swatguy10_15]

yea i thought the speed trap law was more like the speed cant be posted at 40 the 20 feet down the road it all of a sudden switches to 30 for no apparent reason and thats where the cops hang out to give tickets. not that they had to be in plain sight.

Lol..Its a tad more complicated than that,but hey that would be a no bueno..I remember when I used to be an "explorer" with the CHP many many moons ago and there was a husband/wife team that would do a "speed trap of sorts" They would clock exactly how long it took to get from point a to point b. Then sit at opposite ends timing vehicles and such via radio..And stop everyone who was"under" the time.Hilarity..If I recall correctly about 50% of the tickets stuck.lol.
As the gentleman above stated, they can sit wherever, it matters not. Alas, the "dont speed" and it really doesnt matter what theyre doing

[tyrist]

A speed trap is when you have a measured distance of roadway which allows you to count the time it takes for the vehicle to cover the distance. You can then calculate the speed of the vehicle.

[yzErnie]

It is also a posted speed that is more than 5mph lower than what the speed survey recommends. The time and distance is pretty accurate but not admissable.

[djbooya]

A common misperception is the officer has to be openly visable. There is not speed trap rules about hiding behind a sign, building or whatever. For that matter, he could be camo'd out in a tree and shooting radar/laser and that does not fall into the speed trap law.

Funny thing about this is that a person I met over in Reno was telling me that one of the days he was in Cali going from 80->680 south at the north end of 680 he saw a CHP jump out of a tree, jump on his bike, and then nail him for speeding...was clocked by the CHP guy sitting up in a tree...

not quite camo, but close

[Saym14]

A common misperception is the officer has to be openly visable. There is not speed trap rules about hiding behind a sign, building or whatever. For that matter, he could be camo'd out in a tree and shooting radar/laser and that does not fall into the speed trap law.

no! sorry , camo'd out is a speed trap. if you mean a camo outfit whcih is what I think of camo'd out. he must be in a regular uniform, as well as on a marked bike/car. but, yes 'hiding" has nothing to do with speed trap laws.

[slowjonn]

LOL! Reminds me of the Andy Griffith episode where Barney got the motorcycle and set up "Checkpoint Chickie" Had a bunch of bushes on the front of the motor as concealment. Classic!

[yzErnie]

no! sorry , camo'd out is a speed trap. if you mean a camo outfit whcih is what I think of camo'd out. he must be in a regular uniform, as well as on a marked bike/car. but, yes 'hiding" has nothing to do with speed trap laws.

What I meant was camo'd out as in hiding in a tree. I guess I shouldn't have thought someone would think we'd wear face paint and BDUs. The law is very specific about what an officer working traffic has to be driving/riding but there is nothing about a uniform of the day.